A Texas man managed to escape his burning home alive thanks to the help of his two small dogs.

Joe Kilgore was asleep when an early morning fire broke out at his home.

He said his Pomeranians, Sassy Mae and Sissy Ann, alerted Kilgore to the fire and saved his life.

"They woke me up barking with smoke coming under the door. I would be dead today. I would be dead right now," Kilgore said.

At one point, the fire became so intense that emergency crews and firefighters had to pull out of the building.

Kilgore's home was destroyed, but thankfully he still has his life.

"Anyone who don't have a dog after this should get one," he said.